Method and apparatus for mixing and working of rubber



June 19, 1934. E; NT" 1,963,503

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 77 157/7652 frl'c Qu/mon ATTORNEY5 June 19, 1934. QUINTQN 1,963,503

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTQR imam [fr/c Oumfon ATTOR NEY5 June 19, 1934. E.-E. QUINTON 1,963,503

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 2 [FF/7657 EF/C Gu/mon BY 1' M E. E. QUINTON June 19, 1934.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IVENTOR frnesf Er/c Ou/mon ATTORNEYS E. E. QUINTON June 19, 1934-.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1933 6 Sheets-$heet 5 June 19, 1934. E. E. QUINTON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING AND WORKING OF RUBBER Filed April 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IPIVENTOB 157/1652 Er/c Qumfon ATTORNEYS Patented June 19, 193 4 omen v METHon'ANnAPPAR TUs FOR MIXING r r Ann womrmoor RUBBER 7 Z Ernest Eric Quinton; Heathfnear Sutton Coldfield, England, assignor to Dunlop Tire & Rub-f 1 her Corporation, Bufialo, N. 1,9. corpg'n'a tion of New Yorke Appli cation an 6, 1933, Serial No. 664,693 I l 1. I Great Britain March ,15, 1932 g oin me ,(cl. 18-2 This invention relates-tothe automatic mill called rubber, and apparatus therefor.

" Its object i'sfto" provide 'a-new or improved arrangement which, although" simple in conception and design and alsorinexpensive in'first'cost,

operation and maintenance, is'highly eflicient in use, ensuring as it "doesthat thebatch of rubberris thoroughly mi ed or {otherwise worked.

throughout. I V I In'myinvention I pass the rubber in accontinuous manner through milling rolls in successive millings andbetween said millings withdraw rubber from-said rollsin a continuous manner and 'return it thereto. While withdrawn, the rubber may be manipulated by folding, doubling, narrowing and thickening or zigzagging to render asuecessive milling moreefiective. Y The'rubber may be separated upon,=or after, milling and "the separated strips or streams may be transposed orotherwise altered in relative position and laterally or otherwise relatively to the rolls before returning thereto so that various-"parts of the rubber. mass may be intermingled. a' I may use only one milLthe rubber progressing continuously away from the same and back thereto, or alternatively, I may use a plurality of mills between which gresse'd; I I The manipulation referred to may include inter alia, feeding the rubber away from and/orback tothe rolls along a plurality of paths, reducing the rubber to a smaller compass than it has on leaving the rolls, or twisting, zig-zagging or analogously diverting the rubberfrom its normal line of progression, or a convenient combination of these things. 1 Various other features and provisions of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

" As far as terminology is concerned, I use the term-continuous to indicate a general efiect of continuity, but I do notmean to' imply that the efiects thereby described may not be stopped, interrupted at intervals or modified as. to speed. I use the term rubber to mean'anymixture of orcontaini-ng rubber-or the like, said term being used. commonly for all the material being mixed or only part thereof.

the rubber iscontinuouslyprounderstoodand carried into' efiect, the'same will By theterm .mix-, ing-I' mean any blending, mixing, .masticating now-be described with reference to the "accomi- I panying drawings: which areall more or less-diagrammatic, and'inwhich--. 1 r Fig- 1 is a'perspective ViQW of one embodiment of the invention applied to a single mill; I Figs. land '3 are, respectively, side and plan views of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofone embodiment of the invention applied to two mills. Figs. Sand 6' are, respectively, side and plan viewsofFigA. g

Figs. .7 and 8' are, respectively, end and: side 'viewsof one alternative embodiment of the in avention. 1

Figs. 9, l0. and 11 are, respectively,'end, side and plan views of. another alternative."

Figs. 12 and 13 are,.respectively, end and side .views of an alternative using a specially designed end view or another. alternative inent using a single mill. 'In this, case, over the mill rolls :1 and 2 I place a pair .of driven conveyors 3 and 4which crossover as shown. The

rubber issheeted onto'the front roll 1 and is a plan view illustratingthe invention 1 divided by meansof a cutter5into lesser sheets I which, as shown, then pass to the conveyors 3 and 4. Thus the rubber from the right hand side of thenmill iscontinuously progressed to the left hand side'and vice versa, a bank of rubber fi being maintained in the nip of the rolls.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the preferred arrangement using a plurality'of mills. Inthis ca'seI use a pair of mills 7 and 8 and arranged 'betweenthe 'two,fa' pair of conveyors 9 and 10 which, as

-shown,'continuouslyprogress the rubber to and no between the two mills. Said rubber is sheeted onto the front rolls l and the 'whole sheet as shown in the drawings, creased and folded into a lessercompass as it passesto'said conveyors. Aslbefore, a bank6 is'maintained at the nip of'the-rolls. I s

These are the two main systemswhich com-'- mend themselvesnto me, particularly as it will be seen that in both the position of the sheet, or part thereof, is altered in relation to the length of the mill rollsTa'nd/or in relation'to other parts of the sheet. In other words, the position of certain points on the sheet is changed in relation to other points thereon, the whole mass of rubber being thoroughly intermixed and worked together. And further, the bank of rubber accumulating in the nip of the rolls is kept Working and constantly supplying different material to the sheet passing through said rolls.

I will now describe certain modifications of or additions to these two main embodiments.

Part of the rubber may, if desired, feed back to the same or substantially the same part of the mill from which it came.

For example, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, instead of a single cut at the center of the rolls I may use two cuts, one each side, and either let the middle strip remain on the rolls or feed it away and back again.

The creasing or folding eifect provided by the scheme shown in Figs. 41 to 6, and to a lesser extent in Figs. 1 to 3, is a form of stratifying but, alternatively, I may provide definite stratification by, for example, superimposing the strips referred to in-the next precedingparagraph one upon the other.

Instead of definitely crossing the conveyors 3 and 4 one over the other, I may merely cause them to converge toward the center of the mill, the rubber from one preferably meeting the rubber from another and falling into the nip as a stratified length.

Instead of dividing the rubber into strip or analogous form and guiding it along a plurality of paths as exemplified in Figs. 1 to 3, I may merefly reduce it into a smaller compass, as shown for example in Figs. 7 andS. In this case the sheet from the front roll 1 is fed away from the mill Joya conveyor 11 and is then converged into the nip by a chute 12 or any other convenient means. In v itsprogression between successive millings the sheet may be twisted, zig-zagged or similarly diverted from its normal lineof progression.

For example, as shown in Figs. .9,- 10 and 11, the rubber may be fed as. a sheet awayfrom the mill on a conveyor 13 and back thereto on a conveyor 14 onto which last it is zig-zagged by means of a shoe 15 which engages it (the rubber preferably passing through the shoe) and reciprocates it, by means of crank mechanism 16, across said conveyorleso that said sheet is laid in zig-zags thereon as shown in Fig. 11.

The rubber may, prior to coming to the shoe 15, have been previously folded or creased into a lesser compass, or the shoe itself may produce that effect as the rubber passes through it. Instead of a shoe such as 15, I may use a chute such as that shown inFigs. '7 and 8 of the drawings and cause that to oscillate.

It is exemplified in Figs. '7 and 8 that instead of two or more conveyors, I may use only one and this is further exemplified in a convenient modification of the scheme shown in Figs. 9 to 11, according to which modification the conveyor 14 is dispensed with while the oscillating means operates at the front end 13a of the conveyor 13, the latter being shortened so as to deliver directly over the nip of the rolls.

The rubber may be oscillated in a variety of ways, for example, instead of oscillating it prior to falling back into the nip .as in Figs. 9 to 11, it may be oscillated during its fall into the nip.

I may make special provision for this. purpose such as an oscillating chute associated with the conveyor overhanging the. nip, or alternatively, I

may rely on the. oscillation incidental to the fall of the rubber from a comparatively high position, as indicated for example in Figs. 1 to 6.

I may, of course, use ways other than those set out above for altering the path of the rubber, or for getting the rubberinto a smaller compass. For example, in one scheme for effecting both these things, the lower conveyor 14 in Figs. 9 to 11 is driven slower than the upper conveyor 13 so as to effect a. procession of folds.

Where the rubber is divided into strips the sameare preferably produced with the aid of a suitable cutter or cutters such as 5, or the like,

associated with the mill. These may be operated continuously and from stationary positions or, alternatively, intermittently and/or from different positions; for example, they may oscillate or move along the length of the rolls so that in effect strip is taken from diiferent points along said rolls continuously.

Instead of conveyors, as shown, I may use rollers, but the conveyor system is preferred becausethe rubber is then given the optimumsut port ,in its progression betweenmillings.

In certain instances the guiding and/orprogrossing means may merely idle, functioning simply to guide the rubber, progressionof the same being eifected by the mill and/or by gravity, but in the main, said means are power driven, or a combination of idler anddriven means may be used. If desired, the rubber may be caused to pass between an opposed pair of ,rollers, or equivalent, for-example, to assist in. its progression, to twist or crease it, orto cut it.

For example, I may provide nip rollers 17, see iF'igs. 2 and 3, on the front end of the conveyors 3 and 4 so .asto assist the take-off of the rubber from the mill. 7

The guiding and/or progressing means ,may effect said manipulation, e. g., said crossing, creasing, twisting, folding, stratifying, oscillating and so on or, alternatively,,sai d means may function mainly to carry, guide or feed the sheet,

other manipulation such as folding or creasing being eifected or initiated by hand, for example, the sheet may be folded by hand, i. e., its edges moving over towards its center line, as it passes onto the conveyor 11 or 13.

Means may be provided for checking,..stopping or otherwise controlling the progression ofthe the rubber nicelyto the conditions. obtaining or to assist generally inthe mixing.

For example, automatically operating festoon or the like control may be .used to control the feed, or again I may provide a manual-lyicontrolled stop whereby certain of the powerdriven guiding and/or feeding. means, forinstance, the pair of opposed rollers aforesaid, may be put temporarily out ofoperation ,or slowed down as to speed.

In addition to leading the rubber away from the mill and back thereto, I may use .a suitablyarranged plough or ploughs, or equivalent means, associated with the mill rolls and adapted. to assist in mixing up the batchv generally.

For example, .the rubber may be progressed along the mill rolls by a plough or ploughs fed off at the end and refed. to the other end; or again, one plough maydirect the rubber in one direction and another plough in a different direc tion; or again, ploughs may be used simply to divert the rubber in only one. direction, e. g.,-to the center of the mill. 1

Referring particularly :to the-plural milling scheme, it should be understood that, the-gespective mills may be all of the same kindor not as desired, e. g., they may all be standard mills, or one or more of them may be specially designed mills; they may be spaced any .convenient distance apart,,or they may be associated closely together even to the extent of incorporating a plurality of mills into a unitary macrossover 22 from'mill to mill and separate cross overs 23 on each mill. A

I may use more than two mills as a battery for carrying out my invention-ior example, one mill may 'feed more than one mill .and, per contra, more than one mill may feed one mill. For example, see Fig. 15, an 84"'mill 24 may be fed by a pair of 40" mills 25, thereverse being the casein the return. v

Instead of arranging the mills in line they may be arranged one behind the other, when the rubber may be progressed between them as shown in Fig. 16.

Instead of progressing the rubber to and fro between the mill, i. 'e., from one to'another and back again, it may be progressed in other ways. For example, as shown in Fig. 1'l'it may be progressed from mill to mill, arranged in line formation, without any such return, or as shown in Fig. 18 it may be circulated around a battery of mills arranged in circular formation, the

latter scheme beinga combination of the line scheme shown in Fig. 1'7 and the two-mill scheme shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

7 Finally it should be understood. that the main provisions of the invention may be utilized in conjunction with other provisions, such for ex-- ample as tend furthertoward complete automaticity of operation or extension thereof.

For instance, I may provide automatic cutting off or final take-away or removal of the rubber from the mill; for example, the rubber, when it has been worked or mixed sufliciently, may be cut off the mill and run directly away therefrom, e. g., through a cooling and powdering bath and/or to another machine, the latter for example being an extruder, a calender, or again,.

V or the is cut therefrom by a knife 32 and is guided as by an inclined roller 33 onto another conveyor 34, whereby it is passed, for example, through a cooling bath 35 and from thence via a powdering device 36'to a cutting device 37 whereby it is cutinto small pieces 38 for ready manipula- I tion in subsequent operations.

A further advantage of the invention in practice lies in this, that as the rubber is taken away from the mill along an extended path, increased cooling is automatically provided and this effect may, if desired,be augmented in any convenient way-thus the various operations may be generally speeded up, e. g.,' the mills may berun at a higher speed.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what mannerv the same is to be performed,'I declare that what I claim isl. A method of mixing rubber which comprises rolling said rubber to sheet form, dividing the resulting sheet, transferring the divided sheet parts to relatively reversed positions and again rolling to sheet form.

2. A'method of mixing rubber which comprises rolling and forming said rubber into spaced sheets, interchanging the spacial relation of said sheets, and rolling, said sheets in said inter-'- changed relation. 7 Y

- 3. A methodof mixing rubber which comprises feeding said rubber in spaced streams, rolling said streams .of rubber to sheet form, and supinterchanged positions to said rolling means.

5. Apparatus for mixing rubber which comprises a pair of roll sets for rolling rubber to sheet form, conveyor meansfor conveying rubber sheet from part of the surface of one roll set to the other roll set and from one part of said second mentioned roll set to said first mentioned roll set.

6. Apparatus for mixing rubber which comprises a pair of roll sets for rolling rubber to sheet form, conveyor means for conveying rubber sheet from part of the surface ofone roll set to the other rollset, and conveyor means for transferring rubber from the other part of each roll set to said roll set in axially displaced position. '7 Apparatus for mixing rubber which com1 prises a pair of roll sets to roll rubber to sheet form, a third roll set of larger capacity than those of said pair, means for conveying rolled sheet from said pair of'roll sets to said third roll set, and means for'dividing rolled sheet from said third roll set and returning the divided sheet to saidpair of roll sets, said pair. a r v 8. The method of claim 2 in which rubber material to be mixed is continuously supplied for rolling, and rolled sheet is continuously withone to each roll set of drawn therefrom.

I 9. Apparatus for mixing rubber which comprises a number of roll sets for rolling rubber to sheet form, conveyor means for conveying rolled sheet from one roll set to another, means 

